Herring Gull??

[Rui_Caratão]

Hello to all

Today at Fonte da Telha, Portugal, when looking for ringed LBBG, I have spotted what it seems a 4cy Larus argenteus, in the middle of LBBG flock, and also some YLLG.



Although it is not seen in the photos, it had pale white yellow iris, very pale yellow base to the bill with light orange gonydal spot at the lower mandibule, contrasting with the black marks on both mandibules as seen on the photos.



The legs seemed, flesh colored, and with at least 3 new and short primary feathers moulted: 3 large mirrors although only 2 of them are seen above.
When flying, the bulkier and chubby look was also seen, giving the impression of larger bodied gull with short wings....at least when compared with YLLG.

I would like to hear your far more experienced opinions!!!

all the best,

Rui

[Ruud Altenburg]

I see yellow(ish) legs and a wing that is not yet fully grown. I would identify this bird as a 3cy YLG in Holland!

[adriaens]

Me too.

[Rui_Caratão]

Hi Ruud, 3 cy YLLG, defenetly share a lot with the bird that I have seen, as can be seen on this 255S bird http://www.gull-research.org/ylg1cy2cy/ ... ha5621.htm. Similar color of bill (more yellow at the tip) and legs maybe, but with different proportions, not so long legs, and more bulky.

Although the head, the side of the neck and breast had different winter straking: extensive winter streaking on head, getting very dark around the eye, and strongly mottled brown (large brown blobs), like this Herring http://www.gull-research.org/hg/hg4cy/5352702sept.htm.....is this common on 3cy end of August/begining of September YLLG´s ?????.

Most of 3cy YLLG seen last week and 2 weeks ago here in Portugal, had not such an advanced moult, P10 and p9 worn and still present, and inner primarys stil very short and growing......but tricky to afirm, because, Iberian YLLG, Mediterranean YLLG, and possibly Cantabrican YLLG are all present, and they probably have different moult patterns

Short list of caracteristics not shown in the photo:

-Mantle slightly lighter grey that YLLG, that were present
-Very pale yellow bill at the base, dark band on both mandibules (in the photo it seems larger and darker), pale orange gonys on the lower mandibule, yellow bill tip.
- Pale white yellow eye
- The darker region around the eye, was very fine streaked
- Plain white tail

- Photo taken very early in the morning, without sun, all LBBG appeared darker, than ssp. graellsii

Thank you for the input, probably just an odd 3cy YLLG

all the best,
Rui Caratão

[lou bertalan]

why not 4cy YLG? note apical spots.

[Rui_Caratão]

Hi Lou,

Probably plumage is more consistant with 4 cy birds, but the legs had no trace of yelllow, and the winter head and side of breast streaking seemed even more unusuall.
The photo is really crappy with lots of CA, in the field that bird was paler than the YLLG that is seen at left bottom of the first photo, but the photo seems to show exactly the opposite

Unusuall YLLG it is, at least for me!!!! Tank you to all